...the most gender equal nations

Women on top: Phl among most gender equal nations

            

By Camille Diola

(philstar.com) 

Updated April 19, 2013

 

File photo from the World Bank Photo Collection.

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank identified the Philippines as a world leader in gender equality, particularly in the fields of legislation, management and government.

In its World Development Indicators report released on Thursday, the international organization cited latest data showing that 55 percent of Filipino lawmakers, senior officials and managers are female.

The number, taken from 2007 to 2011 statistics, is the highest in the World Bank report with data from 88 countries.

The Philippines is among the two only countries in the world with more women than men in the said professions, using the International Labour Organization's standard classification of occupations.

Although the report said that gender inequality is most prevalent in developing countries, the Philippines, a lower middle income nation, is one exception.

"The share of women in high-skilled occupations ... indicates women's status and role in the labor force and society at large," the report explained.

Following the Philippines' lead is The Bahamas, a chain of island in the Caribbean, with 52 percent of leaders who are female.

Barbados, another island country in the Caribbean, is in relatively far third with 47 percent.

Ranking fourth is Latvia with women landing in 45 percent of top occupations, while the Cayman Islands are fifth with 44 percent.

The United States, the largest economy in the world, is tied with Latin American country Puerto Rico with 43 percent.

Indonesia, one of the Philippines' peer in Southeast Asis for one, only records 22 percent of high government and business positions given to women.

The world's most gender unequal nations in the world include those that have a dominant Muslim population, the lowest being Pakistan with women occupying only 3 percent of seats in legislation, governance and management.

Also at the bottom of the scale are Azerbaijan (7 percent), Lebanon (8 percent) and Saudi Arabia (8 percent).

"These patterns of inequality begin at an early age, with boys routinely receiving a larger share of education and health spending than girls, for example," World Bank said in the report.

The study, World Bank said, is a compilation of "relevant, high-quality and internationally comparable statistics about global development."

Other indicators cited in the report under people development are prevalence of malnutrition, HIV, unemployment and underemployment, as well as maternal mortality, adolescent fertility and under-five mortality.

 

...the pollution-free Philippines

Painting a pollution-free Philippines

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

April 18, 2013

“This Filipino invention has caught the attention of first-world countries. It’s inspiring. We wanted to tell our countrymen and the world that air pollution is a major concern and that there is a Filipino invention that can help combat pollutants especially in urban centers” - Marnie Manicad

 



MARNIE Manicad filmed on Edsa for several days and nights

 

Quite appropriately, a new documentary on an environment-friendly Filipino invention will premiere on Sunday on National Geographic Channel—a day before Earth Day.
 

The docu, entitled “Asian Innovation: Knoxout,” is part of the NGC’s series “Innovasians.”
 

Documentarian Marnie Manicad, the docu’s director, told the Inquirer: “The ‘Innovasians’ series features different inventions from all over Asia. I wanted to showcase a unique invention from the Philippines: air-cleaning paint.”
 

Manicad was tasked to make the 10-minute docu on a type of paint that contains photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) which turns ordinary water vapor to free radicals that break down two components of smog: NOx (highly reactive gases containing nitrogen and oxygen) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
 

A Filipino company Pacific Paint is behind this innovation—which it developed with United Kingdom’s Cristal and is now available in the market under the brand name, Boysen KNOxOut, Manicad clarified.
 

Solid info
 

Manicad made sure that the docu’s informative component was solid—so that it wouldn’t come across as mere propaganda or an advertorial piece.
 

“From the very start, we made sure that we balanced the facts and information that will be included in the docu,” she explained. “Of course, it is factual to mention the product and what it can do to the environment, but we made it a point [to ensure] that our resource persons’ interviews were backed by studies.”
 

Rest assured, the docu passed through the network’s stringent screening process—the same drill that Manicad had become familiar with when she directed the docu “Inside: Malacañang” for  NGC last year.
 

“The channel is very strict with content and technical quality.
 

Our script was screened by NGC teams in Hong Kong and Washington DC before it was voiced by (narrator) Joonee Gamboa,” she recalled.
 

As such, she made certain that she was equipped with “extensive research” before embarking on this project.
 

“NGC is one of the most credible documentary channels in the world,” she said. Since the docu will be aired on NGC, it will “highlight a Filipino achievement and invention to combat air pollution” on an international platform.                                                  
 

Telling this story in an engaging manner was a big challenge, she owned up. “We not only needed to come up with the best visuals, but viewers need to be able to feel, smell and appreciate those images.”
 

Feel-good docu
 

“This Filipino invention has caught the attention of first-world countries. It’s inspiring. We wanted to tell our countrymen and the world that air pollution is a major concern and that there is a Filipino invention that can help combat pollutants especially in urban centers,” she explained.
 

Last year, Manicad and her team began filming all over Edsa, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare, which now features murals that used the air-cleaning paint. “We shot on Edsa for several days and nights while the murals were being painted.”

...the most influential people in the world

TIME: PNoy one of 'most influential people in world'

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

04/18/2013

 

 

 

 

MANILA (UPDATE) – President Benigno Aquino III is one of the world’s 100 “most influential people” in the annual TIME 100 list.

Howard Chua-Eoan, TIME Magazine’s news director, described Aquino as a courageous President, who “became the face of the regional confrontation with Beijing over its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea.”

“It is a brave stance, the long-term consequences still unknown,” he wrote.

Chua-Eoan also poked fun at the nickname of one of Aquino’s sisters, saying it should be given to him instead.

“For his courage…he really should have the pet name the family gave his eldest sister Maria Elena: Ballsy,” he said.

Aquino was also lauded for stabilizing the country’s “sputtering economy.”

The TIME 100 list is made up prominent individuals, ranging from artists to leaders to icons in various fields.

Aquino joined US President Barack Obama, South Korea President Park Geun-hye, China President Xi Jinping, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, and Pope Francis, among others, on the prestigious list.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President gives credit to Filipinos for his inclusion in the list.

“Upon being informed this evening of his inclusion in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential for 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino III responded with a message for the Filipino People: ‘Ito po ay dahil sa inyong lahat,’” Lacierda said in a statement released Thursday night.

 

...the world's rising stars

Boracay among 'rising star' destinations

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

04/18/2013


 

Boracay island

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ Boracay island can add another feather to its cap as it has been recognized as one of the world’s “rising star” destinations by a travel recommendation site.

Gogobot recently announced the winners of its 2013 Travelers’ Favorite Awards, which is based on survey responses and nominations from its community of around 2.5 million registered users.

While the Philippines did not made it to Gogobot’s “Top Destinations” list, Boracay was included in the “Top 15 Rising Star Destinations,” ranking seventh.

Gogobot described the places included in this category as "destinations poised to take off or ripe for rediscovery."

“Boracay island, in the center of the Philippine archipelago, is a white-sanded island that rivals the best Pacific beaches. White Beach offers all the Caribbean delights from lounging on a beach chair to diving and snorkeling, and Bulabog beach is closer to wind and kite-surfing opportunities. With plenty of bakeries and international restaurants, Boracay deserves a more prominent place on the list of island paradises,” the website read.

Topping the “Top 15 Rising Star Destinations” list is Moscow in Russia, followed by San Antonio in Texas and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.

San Francisco, California topped Gogobot’s “Top Destinations” list this year, followed by London, United Kingdom; and Paris, France.

Several travel magazines and websites have praised Boracay for being one of the best beach destinations in the world today. But an article recently published in the Wall Street Journal lamented how the island has suffered from overdevelopment.

Makati Shang in ‘Top Hotels Worldwide’ list

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Makati Shangri-La hotel ranked 13th in Gogobot’s “Top Hotels Worldwide” list for 2013, which was topped by The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. It is the only Philippine-based hotel in the list.

In Asia, Makati Shangri-La ranked third, with The Peninsula Hong Kong and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in India in first and second place, respectively.

...the Binibining Pilipinas 2013

UP Los Baños grad crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe
            

 The Philippine Star

 April 16, 2013

 

 

UP Los Baños chemistry graduate Ariella Arida (center), crowned Binibining Pilipinas Miss Universe the other night, is flanked by Miss Tourism Joanna Cindy Miranda (left) and Miss International Bea Rose Santiago. JOVEN CAGANDE

 

                                               

MANILA, Philippines - A chemistry graduate from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños bested 49 other candidates and was crowned Binibining Pilipinas 2013 last Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, according to a report posted on ABS-CBNnews.com.

Bb. Pilipinas Universe - Ariella Arida, Laguna

Arielle Arida, 24, impressed the judges in the question and answer portion where she was asked about what women can teach men.

“One lesson in life that women can teach men is being sensitive. Men are more logical when it comes to decisions. They’re rational and straightforward. Unlike women, we use our hearts and we tend to get emotional when we make our decisions. Sensitivity is something that we women can teach to men,” she said.

Arida, who hails from Laguna, said she loves the outdoors, especially the beach. She was also judged best in swimsuit. Meanwhile, Bea Rose Santiago, 23, from Masbate, was named Bb. Pilipinas-International.

Bb. Pilipinas International - Bea Rose Santiago, Masbate

Santiago, who was also chosen Bb. Avon, said she loves to travel and had experienced going to 12 cities in two countries in just two months.

Twenty-three-year-old Joanna Cindy Miranda was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism.

Bb. Pilipinas Tourism - Joanna Cindy Miranda, Nueva Ecija

Miranda gave up her hosting stint to pursue her dream of becoming a beauty queen. She also won the Cream Silk Beyond Beautiful Woman Award.

Bb. Pilipinas Supranational - Mutya Johanna Datul, Isabela

Mutya Johanna Datul of Isabela, 20, was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Supranational. Datul, who was also named Miss Photogenic and Best in Evening Gown, financed her schooling and her mother’s medical expenses by joining beauty pageants, the report further said.

Bb. Pilipinas 1st Runner-up - Pia Wurtzbach, Cagayan de Oro City

Pia Wurtzbach, 23, of Cagayan de Oro, and a member of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, was judged first runner-up.

Various special awards were also given during the pageant, including Miss Friendship, which went to Lourenz Grace Remetillo; Miss Talent, Anna Carmela Aquino; Best in National Costume, Alaine Baccay; Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award, Ellore Punzalan; Bb. Pilipinas-Pagcor, Imelda Schweighart; Bb. Philippine Airlines, Nicole Kim Donesa; and Bb. San Miguel Zero Fit and Sexy Body, Pia Wurtzbach.

Those who made it to the top 15 were Camille Nazar, 23, from Bulacan; Charmaine Elima, 20, from Binangonan, Rizal; Ellore Punzalan, 26, from Las Piñas; Merry Joyce Respicio, 18, from Bulacan; Ma. Angelica de Leon, 19, from Batangas; Parul Shah, 24, from Pangasinan; Grace Yann Apuad, 25, from Agusan del Sur; Rhea Nakpil, 23, from San Mateo, Rizal; Imelda Schweighart, 17, from Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; and Amanda Noelle Navasero, 22, from Makati.

Past winners of Binibining Pilipinas, led by Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, attended the golden anniversary of the country’s premiere beauty pageant.

 

...the UAE's New Pinoy Radio

 

New Pinoy radio channel makes waves in the UAE

 

Ferdinand Godinez

The National (UAE)

Apr 15, 2013

 

 

The presenters on the Filipino radio station TAG 91.1 include, left to right, Loueise da Costa, Joselito Bluebird Echivarria, Jonaphine 'Maria Maldita' Caraan and Nathalia Junbie 'Chikay' Cermino. Courtesy TAG 91.1

 

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Music brings people together. And for the thousands of Filipinos living in the UAE, homegrown songs remind them of anything that is distinctly Pinoy – from the jeepney (passenger vehicle) to halo-halo (shaved-ice dessert) to adobo (meat in a sauce of vinegar, soy sauce and garlic) – and the smiles of loved ones who are thousands of miles away.

And this is exactly what inspired the founding of the country’s first radio station that is devoted to the large and still-growing Filipino expatriate community.

 

TAG 91.1 was the product of long and meticulous planning by the Arabian Radio Network (ARN) group, which was looking to tap into an enormous yet overlooked market in the country’s widely varied demographics.

 

“ARN has spent more than two years conducting wide-ranging -research to determine the under-served communities,” explains Louise da Costa, one of the station’s stable of presenters.

 

Brought over from Virgin Radio where she was dubbed the station’s “Filipina Queen”, da Costa joined the fledgling station to boost its young staff.

 

The station has an all-^-Filipino team and the management made it a point to visit the Philippines to scout for the right talent to represent its new project.

 

Studying Manila’s radio scene, ARN representatives zeroed in on the presenters from the country’s three leading stations. A Filipino music manager and a production manager were also hired.

 

In hindsight, the station is a grand offshoot of the 10pm to 6am Filipino radio programme heard over the past five years on Dubai Eye 103.8.

 

“Nearly 645,000 Filipinos live in the UAE and because of the strong demand, developing TAG 91.1 was a natural choice for ARN,” explains da Costa.

 

The Filipino community has welcomed the new station and social networking sites are already spreading the news. In fact, TAG 91.1 had more than 5,000 visits on its website during its debut broadcast on March 25. “Hundreds of thousands of listeners have already interacted with this programme,” says da Costa. “It has 10,000 Facebook likes, a number that is increasing by the minute.”

 

TAG 91.1 is also a multi-platform radio station: it broadcasts 24 hours a day, is online at www.tag911.ae, has dedicated iPhone, Android, Nokia and BlackBerry apps and a built-in player on all Samsung Smart -televisions.

 

The station’s line-up includes music, celebrity gossip, games and news, all dished out in a distinctly Pinoy fashion.

 

...the Peter Pan awardee

Filipino children’s book wins Peter Pan Prize

By MST Lifestyle
Posted on Apr. 14, 2013

Adarna House recently announced that the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Sweden has awarded this year’s Peter Pan Prize to Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu!, written by Nanoy Rafael with illustrations by Sergio Bumatay III. The Swedish version was published by Bokförlaget Trasten.

The IBBY Sweden’s citation said that “The Filipino picture book Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! represents a part of the world not often seen in Swedish publishing for children. The theme, however, is universal: a child getting a younger sibling. The boy Isko’s anxiety about the changes he suspects will take place in his family is expressed by the recurrent cry of ‘Naku, nakuu, nakuuu!’ (roughly ‘My, my, oh my!’).

The illustrations mirror the main character’s apprehension, and visualize his fears in an imaginative and detailed way. Through a changing palette of colours the pictures follow Isko’s mood from anxious bewilderment to the harmonious final page.Here, the mask which Isko has worn throughout the book has been removed, and he seems to have grown into his role of soon-to-be older brother.”

According to their IBBY Sweden website, the Peter Pan Prize was established in 2000 by IBBY Sweden and the Göteborg Book Fair. The prize is awarded annually to a book for children or young adults of high quality in both literary and subject terms, satisfying one or more of the following criteria: by an author previously unpublished or little known in Sweden; from a country, language group or culture with limited representation in Sweden; with content concerning children or young adults in less familiar countries and cultures less familiar to Swedish readers.

Adarna House added that the Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! has won many awards including: the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) Silver Anniversary Salanga and Alcala Prizes in 2008 for the story and illustrations, and the Encouragement Prize for the 2008 Noma Concours for Children’s Picture Book Illustrations. In 2012, Metrobank Foundation’s Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators chose the book as part of the National Book Development Board’s list of Highly Recommended Supplementary Materials.

Last year’s winner of the Peter Pan Prize was While We Were Out by Ho Baek Lee, and The Arrival by Shaun Tan in 2011.

 

...the 2013 PHL growth forecast (WB)

WB sees 6.2% growth, nearly same as ADB

 

 

Malaya Business Insight

Written by JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

 

The World Bank expects the Philippine economy to expand by 6.2 percent this year and 6.4 percent in 2014, with the growth to be supported by the country’s strong economic fundamentals.

The WB estimate is higher than the ADB forecast of 6 percent for this year and 5.9 percent for next year.

In its “East Asia and Pacific Economic Update” report released yesterday, World Bank cited the Philippines as one of the middle-income countries in the East Asia and Pacific region that outperformed expectations last year.

“The Philippines led the ASEAN-4, accelerating from 3.9 percent GDP growth in 2011 to 6.6 percent in 2012, spurred by robust private consumption, a recovery in government spending, strong performance of the construction sector and of exports,” World Bank said.

With the country’s robust performance last year, World Bank maintained its outlook for the Philippines, unchanged from the forecasts it made in December 2012.

The World Bank’s 6.2 percent forecast for this year is within the national government’s 6 to 7 percent growth target for this period.

“In the Philippines, the fundamentals remain strong, policy responses have been appropriate so far, and reform efforts by the government appear sustainable,” the report said.

The Asian Development Bank earlier revised upwards its forecast for the Philippines to 6 percent for 2013 from its previous outlook of 5 percent.

For 2014, ADB expects the Philippine economy to expand at a slower pace of 5.9 percent.
ADB said that strong consumption and rising investments are expected to boost the Philippine economic performance this year.

It added that the upbeat business and consumer sentiment will support growth. Fiscal spending will remain robust, along with construction activity, driven by the strong demand for housing and office space.

Both the World Bank and ADB also cited the first investment grade credit rating recently given by Fitch Ratings for the Philippines, which is expected to improve the investment climate.

However, World Bank said that to sustain and increase inclusive growth in the developing East Asia and Pacific region over the medium-term, investments in both infrastructure and in skills must be increased.

The agency said that raising the levels of investment would raise growth prospects in the region.
“In the Philippines, lagging infrastructure development is a long-standing impediment to private investment,” the report said.

“Catching up on government infrastructure spending will provide the fiscal spark that is still missing in the country’s growth path, although infrastructure spending is gearing up recently. In 2012 it was equivalent to 2.4 percent of GDP, up from 1.6 percent of GDP in 2011,” World Bank said.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said while the World Bank’s growth forecast of 6.2 percent for the Philippines is at the lower end of the country’s own growth forecast of six to seven percent, it still recognizes that correct measures are being done by the Aquino government to continue to improve and grow the economy.

Lacierda said Malacanang still welcomes the growth forecast of the World Bank but the Aquino government will continue to hope and strive to reach its target of six to seven percent growth this year.

“Certainly, we welcome that. I think that’s a lowside of our forecast. Our forecast is around six to seven percent. But, certainly, it’s a welcome recognition on the part of World Bank that the Philippines has been taking the correct steps in improving the economy and also in having equitable progress for the—for our countrymen,” he said.

The World Bank has maintained its GDP forecasts of 6.2 percent for the Philippines citing that the country continues to show signs of sustained growth.

It also forecasted growth of 6.4 percent and 6.3 percent for the Philippines in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

World Bank also projected that regional growth would rise moderately to 7.8 percent in 2013 and ease to 7.6 percent in 2014.